Monica Rodriguez
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Germination of Astragalus brauntonii seeds Monica Rodriguez Department of Seed Conservation Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden *Citrus College RACE to STEM program Backround Results Conclusion Braunton’s milkvetch (Astragalus brauntonii Parish) is a perennial herb in the legume As predicted, the control with clipped seeds had a high Out of the 8 boiling experiments, the family (Fabaceae; Fig 1). This species is endemic to California, and is found in chaparral percentage of germination; 94%. Experiment F (45 sec. boil) 45 seconds boiling treatment worked vegetation located in the mountains and hills that surround the Los Angeles Basin in Los also resulted with the same percentage (Fig 2). The control the best in germinating the seeds Angeles, Orange, and Ventura Counties. It is listed as an endangered by the Federal with no treatment came out with a 12% germination rate compared with the clipped seeds. More Government (USFWS 2009). This species became endangered due to a variety of factors while the other treatments varied from 36% to 72 %. Mold trials will be needed to assure the such as loss of habitat from urban development, loss of pollinators, and fire suppression developed more often in seeds that went through boiling results are consistent. Seeds should be (CNPS 2013). treatments, however this could have been due to a delay in transplanted into pots as soon as transplanting seeds to pots rather than the treatment. cotyledons develop and the root growth Transplanting the seedlings every three days, there may have reaches 0.3cm to avoid mold Introduction been a lower chance of the seedlings developing mold. development. Like many legumes, Braunton’s milkvetch has a thick seed coat. According to similar research, “The impermeable seed coat restricts water imbibition and results in poor Percentage of A. brauntonii seed geriminated seed germination” (Miklas et al, 1987). The purpose of this study was to find an efficient way to germinate the seeds. Previous studies at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic 100% 94% 94% Garden (RSABG) showed that clipping the seed coat assures almost 100% germination but requires a large amount of time and labor. In this study I tested several boiling 90% treatments of Astagalus brauntonii seeds as an alternative to clipping seeds. Boiling is 80% a less time consuming treatment, but previous trials at RSABG showed lower 72% Fig 1. Astragalus brauntonii in 70% germination rates and the treatment may potentially harm the seeds. In order to find an 66% flower growing at RSABG (Photo ideal boiling length that would soften the seed coat without harming the seed, I tested 60% 60% eight different boiling treatments, scoring the percentage of germination. by Tommy Stoughton) 50% Treatment 42% 40% 38% Methods 36% 36% • Seeds collected from plants cultivated at RSABG were used in this experment. 30% • The research had 2 controls - Control 1 (Con 1) the seeds were clipped (A nick was made with a razor blade into the seed coat for the 20% 12% endosperm to absorb water). 10% - Control 2 (Con 2) no treatment done to the seeds. • Along with the controls there were 8 different experiments in which the seeds were placed in boiling water for 0% Con 1 Con 2 A B C D E F G H different duration of times. After boiling, the seeds were left in water over night to cool down and recover. Treatment - Flash Boil (A) Fig 3. Bar graph illustrating the percentage of Astragalus - 5 seconds boil (B) brauntonii seeds germinated - 10 seconds boil (C) - 15 seconds boil (D) Literature Cited - 30 seconds boil (E) California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2013. Online Inventory of Rare and - 45 seconds boil (F) Endagered Plants. Accessed online August 9, 2013; available at - 60 seconds boil (G) (http://www.rareplants.cnps.org/) - 90 seconds boil (H) • 50 seeds were used in each control and experiment. The seeds used in this study were collected from garden Miklas P.N., C.E. Townsend, S.L. Ladd. 1987. Seed Coat Anatomy and grown plants. scarification of Cicer mikvetch. Crop Science. 27: 766-772. • Each trial were placed on different 4.5 x 4.5 in. agar plates (Fig 2; the plates were sterilized with bleach and DI water) and put into a growth chamber with a 11 hour light cycle of 21ºC and a 13 hour dark cycle at 12°C. United Stated Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 2009. Braunton’s milk- • Once the radical broke through the seed coat, it was then considered to be germinated. vetch (Astragalus brauntonii) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. • When the seedling developed cotyledons and had a root longer than 0.3 cm, they were removed from the agar U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, Ventura, plates and transplanted into small pots. The pots where filled with seed mix soil and a small top layer of sand to California. Accessed August 9, 2013; available at help the seedling keep dry and not rot. Fig 2. Agar plate with seeds (http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc2381.pdf ) • Seeds and seedlings that had developed mold were removed from the agar plates to keep it from spreading..